Bahrain, Kenya hold roundtable meeting

Manama, June 23 (BNA): Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, chaired a roundtable meeting today between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Kenya. The meeting was held in the Ministry’s General Court in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Sabah Salim Al-Doseri, the Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Eman Ahmed Al-Doseri and a representative of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication. The Kenyan delegation was headed by the Middle East Director at the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Jacqueline Yonga. The two sides discussed the friendly relations between the two countries and reviewed ways to enhance them at all levels. Viewpoints on the latest regional and international developments of mutual concern were also discussed during the meeting. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah affirmed the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance cooperation with the Republic of Kenya for the benefit of both countries and people. In this regard, he recalled the visit of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to Nairobi in February 2018, during which he met with the President of the Republic of Kenya. The visit contributed to the development of ties between the two countries. The Undersecretary for International Affairs highlighted the development and achievements of the Kingdom under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He noted that the Kingdom is now a model for reforms, tolerance, religious and public freedoms, women partnership and sustainable development. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah also shed light on the various investment opportunities in the Kingdom of Bahrain as it is a regional hub for finance and entrepreneurship. He also commended the efforts of the government in implementing various sustainable development programmes in accordance with the highest quality and efficiency standards, praising Bahrain Economic Vision 2013 for diversifying sources of income and attracting technical and financial services. The Undersecretary for International Affairs stressed the importance of uniting efforts to combat all forms of terrorism. He warned against harbouring terrorist organisations and interfering in the internal affairs of other states with no regard to the principles of good neighbourliness and other international principles. In this regard, he affirmed the supporting position of the Kingdom of Bahrain to all the measures taken by the Republic of Kenya to preserve its national security against terrorist groups. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah welcomed mutual keenness to expand trade exchange and joint cooperation in the fields of energy, technology, banking, tourism, petrochemicals and small industries. He praised the role of the Kenyan community in the Kingdom of Bahrain and its positive contribution to the Bahraini comprehensive development process. He also lauded the Kingdom’s new achievement in the field of trafficking in persons where it was ranked in Tier 1 status in the report of the Department of State of the United States of America for the second consecutive year as the only country in the MENA region to achieve such status. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah stressed the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to develop cooperation with African countries in various fields through the promotion of economic and investment partnerships that benefit both sides. He also expressed the aspiration of the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance coordination with the Republic of Kenya in the context of collective action, especially at the Arab-African Summit, the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations. For her part, Ambassador Jacqueline Yonga expressed her country’s keenness to further develop cooperation and coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain. She praised the pioneering role of the Kingdom in establishing peace and combating terrorism in the region, wishing the Kingdom further progress and prosperity. (MOFA)